Social commentator and former presidential aide Reno Omokri has publicly called on Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to substantiate his allegations of forgery in Nigeria's newly enacted tax reform laws with concrete evidence.
In an open letter posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Omokri addressed Obi directly, thanking him for his feedback on the four tax reform acts, the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act but urged him to avoid spreading unverified claims.
"Since you have alleged forgery of these laws by the Federal Government, respectfully, sir, could you please provide the Nigerian public with evidence substantiating your allegations?" Omokri wrote.
He cautioned Obi against becoming a "fake news peddler," emphasizing the distinction between legitimate opposition and "maliciously de-marketing" the country.
Omokri's challenge comes in response to Obi's statement on December 20, 2025, titled "Migrating from Padded Budgets to Forged Laws," where the former Anambra State governor accused the government of altering provisions after National Assembly passage.
Obi highlighted alleged insertions, such as a mandatory 20% deposit for tax appeals, asset sales without judicial oversight, and expanded arrest powers for tax authorities, describing the discrepancies as a shift to "forged laws" that undermine democracy and public trust.
The controversy originated from concerns raised in the House of Representatives by Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), who pointed to differences between bills passed by lawmakers and gazetted versions.
This prompted an ad-hoc committee investigation, with opposition figures, including Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, calling for suspension of the laws' implementation set for January 1, 2026.
The Presidency has denied any alterations, insisting processes were followed, while the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee chairman, Taiwo Oyedele, dismissed manipulation claims.
Civil society groups like SERAP have also demanded publication of certified copies for public scrutiny.
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